Pet Loss

Coping with Pet Loss and Grief During the Holidays

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Five Trees for Mina (2023 Review)

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Children often experience death and grief for the first time when a beloved pet dies. Helping children through pet loss can be challenging for parents who are also coping with their own reaction to the loss. In Five Trees for Mina, Tony Lovitt sets out to help young readers and their parents deal with losing a pet.Continue Reading

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How to Deepen Your Bond With Your Cat

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You’ve come to know Sarah Chauncey through her compassionate writing about loss and grief  here on The Conscious Cat over the past few years. After her heart-cat Hedda died in 2016, she wrote P.S. I Love You More Than Tuna, a beautifully illustrated and healing gift book which is available for pre-order now.Continue Reading

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Available for Pre-Order Now: P.S. I Love You More Than Tuna

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I’ve been excited about P.S. I Love You More Than Tuna since I first heard about this first illustrated gift book for adults who are grieving the loss of cat. Really helpful books about pet loss are few and far between. While there are plenty of books and websites out there that offer support, ultimately, grief is a solitary journey. No book or website can do it for you.Continue Reading

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Finding Virtual Pet Loss Support During the Pandemic

Pet Loss| 7 Comments

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Guest post by Sarah Chauncey

This is the third post in a three-part series. I’ve previously written about how veterinarians are handling euthanasia during COVID-19 and ways you can take care of yourself during this time. In this post, I’ll look at some options for reaching out for support during a time when nearly all of us are keeping physical distance.Continue Reading

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How to Cope If Your Pet Dies During the Pandemic

Pet Loss| 55 Comments

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Guest post by Sarah Chauncey

This is the second post in a three-part series. In the first post, l looked at how veterinarians are handling euthanasia during COVID-19.

Losing a beloved companion is a difficult experience at any time, but several factors come together to make it particularly devastating during COVID-19. From veterinarians handling euthanasias differently than usual to physical distancing requirements that keep us from hugging each other, circumstances are coming together that intensify the isolation many guardians feel after a loss even under normal circumstances. In addition, there is so much grief and loss in the world right now, and we’re all feeling some of that—loss of routine and familiarity, economic uncertainty, concern about loved ones, and of course, for many people, the loss of human loved ones to this awful disease. This collective grief weighs heavily on all of us and can make grieving the loss of a pet during COVID-19 even more challenging.Continue Reading

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Premature Euthanasia: When to Put Down Your Beloved Cat

Pet Loss| 50 Comments

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Making a decision about whether or when the time is right for euthanasia is one of the hardest things a cat parent will ever go through. Unlike human medicine, veterinary medicine offers the option of gently ending suffering when there seems to be no hope for recovery. However, making this decision for a beloved cat can be agonizing.Continue Reading

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The Gift of Anticipatory Grief

Pet Loss| 29 Comments

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Guest post by Sarah Chauncey

Anticipatory grief is grief that arises before a death—when you know it’s coming, but your cat is still alive. On one end of the spectrum, anticipatory grief can cast a shadow over the time you have left with a sick or senior cat. But this “grief in advance” can also be a gift, if we can recognize it and work with it.Continue Reading

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Six Ways to Care for Yourself When You’re Grieving the Loss of a Cat

Pet Loss| 35 Comments

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Guest post by Sarah Chauncey

As painful as it is, grief is a universal human experience. There isn’t a person on the planet who has not, or will not, experience the loss of a beloved family member. Our culture ranks humans above animals, and therefore, grieving the loss of an animal friend is often not recognized for the painful experience it is. This disenfranchisement can leave people feeling isolated and misunderstood—which compounds the grief.Continue Reading

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What to Expect & Do When You’re Grieving the Loss of a Cat

Pet Loss| 307 Comments

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Guest post by Sarah Chauncey

The loss of a cat is heartbreaking for any guardian, but many are blindsided by the depth and intensity of grief they feel. You’re grieving not only a being, but also a relationship that was unique to you. In addition, cats often with people through entire chapters of their lives. The cat’s death marks the end of an era in the human’s life.Continue Reading

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Adopting After Losing a Cat

Pet Loss| 40 Comments

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Guest post by Sarah Chauncey

After the death of a beloved cat, it can be hard to believe we could ever open our hearts and homes to another. While it’s true that each cat (and our bond with them) is unique, keeping our hearts closed to future felines means we can wind up dwelling on the loss, rather than exploring new bonds.Continue Reading

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